CRPF Helpline Flooded With Calls From Kashmiris Seeking to Know About Families

The helpline number – 14411 – has received over 870 calls over two days.

Indian security forces personnel patrol a deserted street during restrictions after the government scrapped special status for Kashmir, as it rains in Srinagar August 8, 2019. Photo: Reuters/Danish Ismail

New Delhi: A Srinagar-based CRPF helpline which was restored on Sunday has been inundated with calls from Kashmiris living across the country and abroad seeking to know the wellbeing of their kin in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Monday.

The helpline number – 14411 – has received over 870 calls over two days and over 55% of the callers wanted to know about their families, they said.

The five-digit landline number was revived late Sunday night despite the ongoing communication clampdown in the state post the government revoking its special status under Article 370.

As per official data compiled till Monday evening, the helpline had received over 470 calls from Kashmiris based in India and abroad who were anxious to know about the wellbeing of their parents, other family members, relatives and an update on the situation in their respective areas.

Many of them also expressed their desire to talk to their families and asked CRPF personnel manning the helpline to help them out, the officials said.

The helpline has received about 17 calls from the UAE, 11 from Saudi Arabia, three each from the US and Russia, five from Israel, four from Singapore, two from France and one each from Australia, Kuwait, Belgium, the UK and Canada among others, according to the data.

Also, since Sunday night, more than 410 calls were received from Kashmiris living in various parts of the country wanting to know about their families, they said.